U.S. patent application number 11/252310 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-19 for barcode reader with a music player.
Invention is credited to Hironobu Watanabe, Hitoshi Watanabe.
Application Number | 20070084929 11/252310 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37947253 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070084929 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watanabe; Hitoshi ; et
al. |
April 19, 2007 |
Barcode reader with a music player
Abstract
A portable device is provided which integrally comprises a
barcode reader and a multimedia player. The multimedia player may
comprise a music player, a video player, a radio receiver, a TV
receiver, etc. The device preferably comprises a permanent storage
such as a USB Mass Storage, and a USB connector for data
transmission between the USB Mass Storage and an external unit such
as a personal computer. A cap of resilient material firmly engages
with the USB connector to protect the USB connector as well as to
attach the device to an external item.
Inventors: |
Watanabe; Hitoshi;
(Saitamai-shi, JP) ; Watanabe; Hironobu;
(Koshigaya-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KAPLAN GILMAN GIBSON & DERNIER L.L.P.
900 ROUTE 9 NORTH
WOODBRIDGE
NJ
07095
US
|
Family ID: |
37947253 |
Appl. No.: |
11/252310 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/462.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/462.13 |
International
Class: |
G06K 7/10 20060101
G06K007/10; G06K 15/00 20060101 G06K015/00 |
Claims
1. A portable device, comprising a barcode reader and a music
player.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a permanent
storage.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein said permanent storage is adapted
to store data obtained from reading barcodes by said barcode
reader.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein said permanent storage is adapted
to store digital music files playable by said music player.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein said music player comprises a
radio receiver.
6. The device of claim 2, wherein said permanent storage comprises
a USB Mass Storage.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said USB Mass Storage comprises a
flash memory.
8. The device of claim 6, further comprising a USB connector
secured to a body of said device for data transmission between said
USB Mass Storage and an external unit.
9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a cap forming a
housing adapted to accommodate and hold said USB connector
therein.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein said cap is made of a resilient
material.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein said cap is made of a
rubber.
12. The device of claim 10, wherein said cap is made of a
plastic.
13. The device of claim 9, wherein said cap is adapted to be
attached to an attachment ring so as to attach said device to an
external item.
14. The device of claim 2, further comprising a body having a flat
surface.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein said flat surface comprises a
display for showing information obtained from said permanent
storage.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein said information comprises
information decoded from barcodes read by said barcode reader.
17. The device of claim 15, wherein said information comprises
information of music files.
18. The device of claim 15, wherein said display is an LCD
display.
19. The device of claim 14, wherein at least a part of said flat
surface is adapted to be used as a cosmetic mirror.
20. A portable multifunctional device, comprises a barcode reader
and a multimedia player.
21. The device of claim 20, wherein said multimedia player
comprises a video player.
22. The device of claim 20, wherein said multimedia player
comprises a music player.
23. The device of claim 20, wherein said multimedia player
comprises a TV receiver.
24. The device of claim 20, wherein said multimedia player
comprises a radio receiver.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a portable multifunctional
device, and more particularly, to a portable barcode reader
integrated with a multimedia player such as a music player.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The object of the present invention is to provide a portable
multifunctional device which can be used as both a barcode scanner
and a multimedia player such as a music player.
[0003] According to the present invention, a portable device is
provided which comprises both a barcode scanner and a multimedia
player such as a music player. Because the scanner and the music
player are integrated in a single portable device, the device
brings more convenience to a user compared to the prior art where
the barcode scanner and the music player are two separate
devices.
[0004] Preferably, the device is provided with a permanent storage
for storing information obtained from the barcode reading
operations as well as digital music files.
[0005] Preferably, the permanent storage is a USB Mass Storage, and
the device is provided with a USB connector secured to a body of
the device for data transmission between the USB Mass Storage and
an external unit such as a computer.
[0006] Preferably, a cap is provided for accommodating and holding
the USB connector therein. Preferably, the cap is made of a
resilient material. Preferably, the cap is connected to a ring so
as to attach the device to an external item.
[0007] Preferably, the device is provided with a flat surface
having a display for showing the information retrieved from the
permanent storage. Preferably, the display is an LCD display.
Preferably, at least a part of the flat surface can be used as a
cosmetic mirror.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The above and other features and advantages will be clearer
after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments
of the present invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating an
embodiment of a portable multifunctional device according to the
present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a back view of the embodiment in FIG. 1; and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a back view similar to FIG. 2, but with the cap
separated from the USB connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] A preferred embodiment of a portable multifunctional device
10 according to the present invention is schematically illustrated
in FIGS. 1-3. Functionally, the device 10 is an integral
combination of a barcode scanner and a music player.
[0013] The device 10 comprises a generally rectangular body 11,
which houses functional components of both the barcode reader and
the music player. Since both barcode reader and music player are of
conventional techniques, illustration and description of their
components are largely omitted for simplification.
[0014] Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the device 10 is
provided with a permanent storage 20, such as a USB Mass Storage,
for storing data obtained from the barcode reading operations,
digital music files, instructions, contact information, and any
other information interesting to a user. Preferably, a USB
connector 16 is provided for data transmission between the USB Mass
Storage 20 and an external unit such as a personal computer (not
shown).
[0015] As illustrated in FIG. 1, on a front surface 11a of the body
11, a slot 12 is provided for projecting a scan light beam
therefrom and for receiving reflected light during barcode scan
operations. Alternatively, the slot 12 may be provided in any other
proper portion of the body 11.
[0016] Preferably, a rotatable button 13 is provided on the front
surface 11a. The rotatable button 13 may be used to control a
desired function, such as to adjust a volume of the music player,
to scroll the information shown on a display 14 (to be explained
more later), to search for music channels, etc. In addition to, or
as an alternative to, the rotatable button 13, other functional
buttons (not shown) for controlling the music player, the scanner
or the whole device 10 may also be provided on the front surface
11a or other portions of the body 11. For example, a power on/off
button (not shown) may be provided to turn on or turn off the power
of the music player or the power of the whole device 10.
[0017] Preferably, an activation button 15 is provided at a side of
the body 11 for triggering a scan operation. Alternatively, the
activation button 15 may be provided at any other proper portion of
the body 11.
[0018] A flat back surface 11b of the body 11 is illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3. Preferably, the back surface 11b is provided with a
display 14, which is preferably an LCD display, for showing the
information stored in the storage 20.
[0019] Preferably, at least a part of the back surface 11b is
properly processed so as to be usable as a cosmetic mirror as
well.
[0020] Preferably, a cap 17 is provided for covering the USB
connector 16 when the USB connector 16 is not in use for data
transmission so as to protect the USB connector 16 from inadvertent
damage. Preferably, an inner size of the cap 17 matches the size of
the USB connector 16 so as to snugly accommodate the USB connector
16 therein.
[0021] Preferably, the cap 17 assumes some resiliency or is made of
a resilient material such as rubber or plastic so as to firmly hold
the USB connector 16 therein, and can be removed from the USB
connector 16 only when a positive external force is applied
thereon. Preferably, the cap 17 is connected to a ring 18 which in
turn is connected to a string or a chain 19, whereby the device 10
can be attached to an external item such as the wrist of the user
or a waist belt of the user.
[0022] Though the above has described the preferred embodiments of
the present invention, it shall be understood that numerous
adaptations, modifications and variations are possible to those
skilled in the art without departing the gist of the present
invention. For example, though in the preferred embodiment the
device 10 has been described to include a music player, the device
10 may additionally or alternatively comprises a video player, a
radio receiver and/or a TV receiver. The scanner and the player may
share the same storage 20 or have their respective storages 20.
Therefore, the scope of the present invention is solely intended to
be defined by the accompanying claims.
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